Noni Madueke was axed by Enzo Maresca for Chelsea’s first Premier League defeat since October, with the Blues boss making an example of the 22-year-old English international.
Madueke was not injured as the winger missed out on making the squad here, and Maresca instead named a bench that included two goalkeepers and a pair of academy graduates.
He only used a single substitute, replacing Nicolas Jackson with Christopher Nkunku, as Fulham went on to win at Stamford Bridge for the first time in 45 years.
Maresca has not yet explained exactly why he dropped Madueke, but he has previously criticised the Englishman for not training properly in between matches.